Whiplash Treatment

In many cases of whiplash, your doctor will recommend a surgical collar to steady the neck and prevent movement. A soft collar is generally accepted to be more effective than a hard one in most cases of whiplash, but this is a treatment decision that your doctor alone can take.

In the meantime, you can take steps to ease the injury with some self-administered treatment methods:

• Use an ice pack on the neck or whiplash affected area to ease any swelling that may occur. Do not apply the ice directly to the skin but encase it in a towel, plastic bag or other suitable container. This will avoid "ice burn".
• If you are able to take pain relief, make sure you use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products (typically ibuprofen or aspirin).
• Initial rest is obvious, but consult your GP before you introduce any program of regular movement, no matter how slight.

You might also want to consult a phsyiotherapist or osteopath for advice on other whiplash treatments like ultrasound, massage or other therapies of a physical nature. But again, it is important to stress that your first port of call for all whiplash injuries should be your doctor!